Nordisk kunst og litteratur i Tyskland i 1890erne

Abstract

Summary The article deals with the reception of Scandinavian art and literature in Germany in the 1890's. The basis of the examination are three journals, Freie Buhne, Die Gesellschaft and Pan which all of them are concerned both with literature and art. It is shown that the well‐known German interest for Scandinavian literature of that time also includes Scandinavian art. The many reviews and articles about Scandinavian art prove a genuine interest in the subject, but are also part of the passionate German debate about modernism versus traditionalism, internationalism versus nationalism. The enthusiasm of Freie Buhne which had a special relationship to the Nordic countries thanks to its first editor Otto Brahm and its publisher Samuel Fischer, was unlimited. It “uses” Scandinavian art in its fight for modernism and internationalism and attacks in that connection also Anton von Werner as the powerful representative of the official nationalistic attitude. The programme of Die Gesellschaft was chiefly natio...